News broke yesterday that Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has quit the band for the second time. Bizarrely, he left the band a year ago and yet nobody actually knew about it, aside from the band and Frusciante himself of course. It was only revealed yesterday because a statement was posted on the guitarist’s website and MySpace profile.

It never fails to amaze me how the press do not pick up on things like this and yet know what type of underwear that huge pop stars wear!

Frusciante announced in his statement: “When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.

“Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.”

So expect more solo music from Frusciante very soon!

Frusciante, acknowledged as one of the best guitarists in recent years, joint the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1988 following the death of previous member Hillel Slovak but left in May 1992 in the middle of the band’s tour of Japan. He returned in 1998 and continued to work with the band right up until they collectively took a break following the success of the Stadium Arcadium album.

Frusciante’s replacement has already been named as Josh Klinghoffer, a session guitarist who has previously toured with the band and worked with Frusciante on solo material.